Maribeth Joeright/MJoeright@News-Herald.com Kevin Knoefel sits with one of his lawyers, Dennis LoConti, during a bond hearing before Lake County Common Pleas Judge Joe Gibson, Friday. Knoefel had his cash bond reduced from $5 to $3 million. He is charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit agravated murder, three counts of complicity to commit aggravated murder and six counts of sexual battery.

Knoefel, 43, of Willoughby Hills, in court with defense attorneys Michael Connick and Dennis LoConti, attempted to get his bond reduced to $275,000 - the cost of his paid-off home.

"Mr. Knoefel's wife was murdered by a psychopath. Mr. Knoefel had nothing to do with it," Connick said.

But Chief Assistant Prosecutor Karen Kowall argued that Knoefel is a flight risk and has the financial resources that justify the $5 million bond set by arraigning Judge Vincent A. Culotta.?

Knoefel faces a maximum penalty of life in prison without parole if convicted of convincing his foster daughter, 18-year-old Sabrina Zunich, to kill his wife, Lisa.

Lisa Knoefel, a 41-year-old social worker, was found stabbed to death in their Chagrin Drive home about 1:15 a.m. Nov. 16. Police said they found Zunich - who allegedly had been having an illicit sexual relationship with Knoefel - holding a bloody knife at the scene. Zunich stabbed the victim about 27 times, Connick said.

The defense called two witnesses to the stand Friday.

Willoughby Hills Detective Ronald Parmertor testified he told the defendant he was concerned about "what went on in the house."

Kevin Knoefel's sister, Chris Sutton, testified she supports a bond reduction so he can be set free.

"Absolutely, we are behind him," she said.

The state called no witnesses.

The victim's husband pleaded not guilty Aug. 16 to two counts of conspiracy to commit aggravated murder, three counts of complicity to commit aggravated murder and six counts of sexual battery.

Kowall and Assistant County Prosecutor Lisa Neroda recently filed a response to the bond motion stating Culotta's order should stand because Kevin Knoefel participated in the murder and sexually abused a foster child in his care.

According to the indictment, the victim's husband and Zunich discussed multiple plans to kill Lisa in her bedroom as she slept and to make the murder look like a burglary.

"To say the allegations are solely predicated on evidence surrounding Sabrina Zunich is inaccurate and neglects to address potential facts yet to be demonstrated at trial," the prosecutors' motion stated.

The defense claims Zunich - whose murder case has not yet gone to the grand jury - acted alone and is lying to get a deal for a lesser sentence. Zunich remains in jail on a $750,000 bond.

The defense is also arguing that Knoefel's bond should be lowered because he could have fled before his arrest but didn't.

"The fact that the Defendant did not flee during the nine months preceding his indictment and arrest is of no consequence," the prosecutors' motion stated. "Defendant Knoefel was SECRETLY indicted and it was not known to the Defendant until his arrest on August 9, 2013 that he was charged."

Connick said Knoefel wants to go home to take care of his mother and 3-year-old daughter, who was found cowering in a closet when police arrived.

Prosecutors argued the victim's husband still has substantial financial assets at his disposal despite no longer being employed as a truck driver who traveled out of state.

So far, Knoefel has received $785,000 from his wife's life insurance, Kowall said.